Language arts education has experienced enormous growth and change with the advent of multimodalities in new media, digital literacies, and technologies. In this paper, Hagood uses Deleuze and Guattari's (1980/1987) theoretical work of a rhizome, rhizoanalysis, and rhizomatic cartography to view the field and examine differently converging…

Explores the potential of teacher research for informing theory. Contends that arguments about the perspectives of researchers and teachers are founded upon positivistic assumptions undergirding particular views of research as well as definitions of researcher and teacher. Encourages collaborative researchers to examine the philosophical bases of…

Explores the different perspectives classroom teachers and researchers bring to any collaboration, noting that the relationship between the two should be symbiotic and that the problems of practice should inform the questions that researchers ask, while the issues addressed in research should help teachers obtain a clearer perspective on teaching.…

Describes the author's experiences as a researcher working with a second grade teacher to implement change in the literacy curriculum, arguing that educational researchers need to engage in collaborative pedagogy with classroom teachers to develop a "theory of use." (HTH)

Discusses the movement to provide a position for drama within the curriculum, opposition to the movement, and recent works which highlight the potential for drama in the language arts. Points out that drama teaches students to negotiate and create meaning. (ARH)

Notes that lesson plans in English classes are unlike those in many disciplines, because the human factors involved often cause unpredictable elements. Points out that fantasy and spiritual inspiration often come into play when teachers put together language arts lesson plans. (SKC)

Explores several concepts relevant to instructional materials that emerged from seminars sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association. Describes how basal readers--so prevalent in instruction--fall short of these concepts, and what can be done to improve instruction. (HTH)

Reports results of a content analysis of 61 narratives of classroom practice that appeared in "Language Arts," volumes 69-74 (1992-1997), as a way of illustrating that narratives that include the twists and turns of practice are more powerful and persuasive than narratives that report only success. (SR)

Presents an interview with researcher and teacher educator Carole Edelsky, named Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts by the National Council of Teachers of English. Discusses her work in sociolinguistics and in literacy education, her perspectives on literacy theory and pedagogy, how her political perspective permeates her work, her…

Looks into the functions of children's writing to determine what children can meaningfully write about. Discusses research on the functions of writing and then suggests assignments where children write letters to different audiences, such as to themselves and to their future children. These assignments help children learn about themselves. (SKC)

Points out the many people who influence what goes on in classrooms, and relying on insights gained from research on language interaction, offers guidelines for communicating with these complex audiences--parents, administrators, policymakers, politicians, and the general public. (HTH)

Contributors discuss (1) the role of teacher explanation, (2) packaged teaching programs, and (3) motivating children to write poetry. (FL)

Discusses the differing viewpoints of a classroom teacher and a researcher on the use of small groups as a teaching technique to illustrate the conflict between the researcher/teacher perspectives. (HTH)

Laments the discrepancy between the process approach to reading and writing instruction advocated in research and the skills approach manifested in homework assignments. Decries the unsatisfactory role this kind of homework forces parents to assume. (HTH)

Describes an alternative elementary school where teachers work together to offer dance as a complement to writing and the study of literature in a whole language approach. Encourages teachers to add new ideas to their curriculum, to use individual talents, and to collaborate with other teachers. (MS)